Pasta Love

Friend 1 to Friend 2: “You sleep with ziti?”

Friend 2 to Friend 1: “What?!”

Friend Group: All in hysterical laughter.

I guess you had to be there; and I am so glad that I was!

Our family paid a visit to our old “hood” this past weekend. It’s been at least two years since our last visit and nine years since we left the sleepy little town nestled in Northeast Pennsylvania.

I once wrote that when you reconnect with an old, good friend after an absence, an ease and sense of comfort sets into your soul and it seems as though time has not passed at all. This weekend we reconnected with not just one friend, but twelve! Four could not make it due to other plans, and they were missed.

This group of couples actually feels more like family than friends. When my husband and I started our family it was hard not being close to our immediate families. We were pretty much on our own as my family was at least 3-hours away and my husband’s was a solid 5-hour trip. They say that kids bring you together and this rang true as I became involved with playgroups. Because most of us were in the same boat, we relied on each other for everything. We brought our kids together to play while we drank coffee and discussed preschools, shared recipes and story time at the local library. We even shared babysitters, which was like sharing gold.

As the kids got older, we began to have more dinner parties, game nights and wine tastings just to have an excuse to hang out more. Being a transient area, folks moved in and out on a frequent basis. We lucked out, because for a good 5 years we were all rooted in this town and I really believe this is what helped in creating great friendships. I have never laughed more than I have with this group. We had fun each and every time we got together.

I can still remember the morning I had to tell my best friend that my husband and I were relocating. I was devastated. We were doing our “5k” running course that morning (we ran and talked a lot!) and we added a little extra to the loop and went through town. It was an early fall morning-we always ran before our husbands had to leave for work- the sun coming up and the air cool. We just made our way down Main Street and were in front of the firehouse when I stopped, hunched over and started sobbing. I’m sure my friend was in the middle of a story and was wondering why I wasn’t commenting when she looked around and saw me behind her. I remember her coming up to me and placing her hand on my back asking if everything was alright. I blurted out “NO! I don’t know how to tell you this, so I’m just going to tell you; we’re moving.” She stood up and started running down the street mad as all hell. I was mad too. My comfort bubble had just burst and it was a scary thing.

Luckily, our friendship is strong and true and has lived through not only my move but hers as well. Her family recently moved back to our old stomping ground and hence a visit and party to reconnect with our group of friends. As they all began to arrive with hugs and smiles and more hugs, we all settled into our story sharing and how are you’s with ease. The laughs were constant as the birds and bees, religion, and politics were all stirred into the pot; nothing is off limits with this crowd. Since most of us have not seen each other in about 7 years, pictures of the kids were passed around and we all realized that our children are growing up too fast! What happened to the little 4 and 5 year olds we last saw? All of them are becoming young ladies and gentlemen. As for the parents? I think we all look damn good!

I have missed this group, my "friend family", very much. When I’m with them, I feel my guard is completely down and I soak in all the joy that is in the room. To quote another friend “You know, this group has always been great; I can never leave an evening without my cheeks hurting from laughing so much!”

Laughter is medicine to the soul and I’ll take that dose anytime.

C is for Cookie...That's Good Enough For Me...

I just wanted to give Kudos to the Google creative team for today's Google header! They are celebrating Sesame St. 40th Anniversary. Big Bird's legs were yesterday. I wonder who will be tomorrow?

I am older than this beloved show? **sigh**

I've started a cooking blog The Cook & The Baker on blogspot to share family recipes. I want to get all the favorite dishes written down and add stories along the way so that my kids will be able to keep tradition going. My father is a true master in the kitchen and creates DE-LICIOUS food...but none of it is written down! When I ask "How do you make that?" his answer is always "I've told you a hundred times...it's easy...and it's all up here." while pointing to his head.  Well, that does not help me in the slightest.

I've always been drawn to family recipes. I love to go through all the old cook books and find the aged,  hand written notes. Those are always the best ones because they were good enough to write down or they were modified with a personal touch. My husband's grandmother was an amazing cook as well. Not just a cook, but baker too. I love reading through her notes when we are back visiting my husband's folks.

The weather has gotten colder and it is prime baking time. It's also time to start up my "Sunday Coffee" with dad and write down all that's "up there".

My kitchen will be constatntly warm as I prepare for the holidays.

I can't wait.

Colbert Nation Sponsorship

Colbert Nation has stepped up to the plate to help sponsor the athletes of U.S. Speedskating!

DSB Bank has pulled its sponsorship of the team after announcing its recent bankruptcy situation leaving hundreds of thousands of dollars gone.

Speedskating is not exactly a "household" sport here in America.  Did you know that the most medals won during the winter games and brought back to U.S. soil are from the sport of speedskating?

Our athletes are better known on the streets of other countries for the sport in which they excel. It is great to see that a public forum which is viewed by so many will allow this sport to attain more notoriaty and have their home country cheering them on as they step up on the podium in Vancouver.  We have many medal contenders ready to take their place in the history books and with the generosity of the Colbert Nation support, dreams are still within reach.

Watch Monday's interview with Dan Jansen & Bob Crowley of US Speedskating http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/254015/november-02-2009/sport-report---nyc-marathon---olympic-speedskating.The skater shown in the clip where DSB is replaced by Colbert Nation on the hood of the skinsuit is our very own Trevor Marsicano!

Help support our American Speedskating athletes by making a donation: https://webpoint.usspeedskating.org/wp15/transactions/order/donation.asp

Thanks so much!

A New Bike Blog Added to the Paper

So sweet that a new blog has been added to the newspaper.

Check it out:
http://blog.timesunion.com/bike/

Pictures From World Cups

Here are some pictures from Milwaukee...hope you enjoy!

I do not like to fly, but how can you not enjoy this view?

Lake Michigan

The Pettit National Ice Arena

Milwaukee, WI

Banners that were around the rink

My friend Trevor Marsicano off a practice start.

Warm-ups Wednesday afternoon.

Speedskaters travel with their own bikes to keep the legs warm at any time. This was set up outside my hotel room.

Practice starts on the finish line.

Petra Acker and Rebekah Dyrud Open World Cup/Olympic Trials as the first pairing. Such a close race.

Petra Acker receiving her splits from Paul Marchese down the backstretch of 1500m race.

Chad Hedrick and Trevor Marsicano at start of 1500m. Both made the World Cup Team.

Trevor Marsicano signing autographs.